Sep 29, 2026, 01:00 AM UTC

United States federal prosecutors have unsealed an indictment charging five alleged Russian intelligence operatives with running a global sabotage and assassination campaign targeting supporters of Ukraine. According to court filings in Manhattan, the suspects orchestrated covert operations across Europe and North America, recruiting individuals to surveil and assault targets, including a June 2024 attack in Prague.

In a related development, a German regional court in Stuttgart convicted a Ukrainian national involved in a Kremlin-linked plot to transport explosive packages containing tracking devices across Europe. Prosecutors stated the operation aimed to inflict harm and weaken confidence in regional security. All five Russian suspects remain at large.

Sources: BBC News, Cyprus Mail, France24, OCCRP, The Guardian.

Iran announced that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States meets several key conditions, including lifting oil sanctions, unfreezing assets, ending port blockades, and ceasing military operations. Despite Tehran offering a temporary seven-day reopening via mediators to resume diplomatic negotiations, US President Donald Trump publicly rejected the proposal. Iranian officials maintain they are still awaiting a definitive official position from Washington.

Concurrently, military confrontations in the vital shipping lane have intensified. Following an American strike on Larak Island, US forces initiated nighttime escorts for oil tankers through the waterway. In response, Iranian forces deployed rocket-launched naval mines along critical maritime corridors, raising fears of further regional instability.

Sources: Expresso, Expresso das Ilhas, Jornal Económico, RTP (Rádio e Televisão de Portugal)

Portugal's parliament has defeated a motion of no confidence submitted by the far-right Chega party against the minority government. The measure, titled "For the end of a Government without political authority," targeted controversies involving the Minister of Internal Administration.

Following a three-hour debate, members of the governing coalition voted against the measure. The main opposition Socialist Party abstained, ensuring the expected failure of the motion.

During discussions, Minister of the Presidency António Leitão Amaro reaffirmed that the executive operates without a "preferential partner" in parliament while predicting a "political judgment" regarding Chega's parliamentary conduct. Cabinet ministers concluded the debate by criticizing Chega for tabling the censure motion and taking issue with the Socialist Party's decision to abstain.

Sources: Diário de Notícias (DN), Expresso, RTP (Rádio e Televisão de Portugal)

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković has pledged to raise the country's average net monthly salary to €1,600 by 2028, alongside upcoming consultations in October to revise the current €1,050 gross minimum wage. The announcement coincides with a €3 billion national industrial strategy running through 2034, which aims to modernize manufacturing and enhance economic resilience.

However, economic figures have raised concerns over long-term competitiveness. Mislav Balković, president of the Croatian Employers' Association, cautioned that labor costs continue to outpace productivity gains, stressing that the private sector must replace public spending as the primary growth driver. Meanwhile, former economy minister Ljubo Jurčić offered a more pessimistic critique, warning that economic expansion is decelerating and characterizing the economy as "drifting without an engine or a rudder."

Sources: HRT Vijesti, Index, Poslovni dnevnik, Vijesti.

Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has called on parliament to begin drafting legislation to facilitate national elections immediately following the end of martial law. Fedorov, who was dismissed from his post by President Volodymyr Zelensky in July, stressed that Ukraine must be legally and operationally prepared to restore democratic procedures as soon as the conflict concludes.

Ukrainian law currently prohibits holding elections while martial law remains active. However, political leaders are increasingly debating the administrative logistics required for post-war voting, including establishing voting mechanisms for millions of Ukrainian refugees abroad and military personnel stationed on the front lines. Fedorov's initiative highlights growing discussions in Kyiv regarding democratic continuity after the war.

Sources: Le Monde.